‘Racial undertones’? SA coach Shukri Conrad’s ‘grovel’ remark overshadows crushing win over India

India suffered a humiliating 408-run loss to South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati on Wednesday, marking their heaviest defeat ever in terms of runs. It was also South Africa’s first Test series win in India in 25 years.

It is India’s second whitewash at home in just 13 months, having been crushed 0-3 by New Zealand last year. The defeat will also greatly dent their prospects of qualifying for the final of the World Test Championship.

Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, India have now lost five Test matches at home – the first time in 66 years that the national team has lost five Tests within a seven-month period.

Chasing an unlikely target of 549 runs on a challenging day-five pitch, the home team’s resistance crumbled quickly. Marco Jansen, who had a brilliant all-round match (93 runs in first innings, and seven wickets in the match) and was declared the player of the match, took a spectacular one-handed catch to sea India’s fate, as the hosts were bundled out for a mere 140 runs in 63.5 overs. Only Ravindra Jadeja showed resilience, scoring a hard-fought 53.

However, South Africa’s well-deserved win was overshadowed by their coach Shukri Conrad controversial remark at the post-play press conference yesterday. Conrad, while referring to the team’s late declaration despite seizing a huge lead, said, "We wanted India to spend as much time on their feet out in the field. We wanted them to really grovel, to steal a phrase, bat them completely out the game and then say to them well come and survive on the last day and an hour this evening."

What was Tony Greig’s ‘grovel’ remark?

Though he mentioned that he was borrowing the phrase “grovel” from a well-known controversial interview with former England captain Tony Greig in 1976, ahead of a series against the West Indies, the choice of word did not go down well with several cricketers and netizens.

To "grovel" means to "lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one's face downwards". Its use in cricket is linked to a difficult past. Greig, who was of white South African heritage, originally used it in a way that was seen as a reference to the Caribbean players and their history, including slavery and apartheid. “If they’re down, they grovel, and I intend… to make them grovel,” he had said.

Greig’s comment had sparked outrage across the Caribbean, with the then West Indian captain Clive Lloyd saying, “The word ‘grovel’ is one guaranteed to raise the blood pressure of any black man. We resolved to show him that the days for grovelling were over.” True to his word, the West Indies demolished England 3-0, and the series is still remembered as a defining moment of pride and resistance in Caribbean cricket.

How did former players react to Shukri Conrad’s ‘grovel’ remark?

Conrad's use of the word, especially against a team from a country that has also fought against racism like South Africa, was slammed by ex-cricketers such as Anil Kumble and Cheteshwar Pujara.

“There’s history attached to this phrase. Fifty years ago, an England captain used the same phrase against the great West Indies side, and we all know what followed,” Kumble said. “South Africa have most likely won the series. But if the Indian team is searching for inspiration or guts (to fight from this position), you will get that when the opposition is using such words and think of you like that.

Pujara, too, agreed with India’s spin legend. “There was no need for that. If such a statement has been made, it means that the Indian team is not in a good situation. Yeh dil main lagne wali baat hai. Jab yeh baat dil pe lagti hai, tab aap behtar bante hain. (It’s something that should sting the heart, and when such a thing stings your heart, you get better). Pujara added that the Indian team should make it to the WTC final and face South Africa there, and give them “a fitting answer”.

Interestingly, South African pace legend Dale Steyn publicly criticised Conrad for his controversial remark. Emphasising that he wanted no association with the remark, Steyn said, "I’m not on that boat, eh? I don’t like that.... There are certain things you just don’t say. There’s stigma attached to it. It just wasn’t necessary. South Africa were in such a dominant position—saying nothing is enough.... Maybe I pick up his tone now—it’s not as harsh as Tony Greig’s. But that doesn’t matter. You just don’t use words like that. You don’t have to say it. Sorry, Shukri, but that’s disappointing.”